Our Standards

Accountability

To promote trust and confidence among all our stakeholders in the work of Medical Aid for Palestinians, we focus on the efficient use of funds raised for our development and humanitarian aid programmes.

We ensure that funds are directed to appropriate projects and that we comply with international regulations and industry standards. MAP has a comprehensive project approval and control process which is implemented in line with best international practice.

Transparency

MAP works to be as transparent as possible about our governance, our activities and our finances. We publish the names of our trustees and directors, details about our activities in Palestine and Lebanon and our annual review and fully audited annual accounts on our website.

For our Trustees Annual Report and Accounts, please see our publications section, here.

Values

MAP opposes racism in all its forms, including anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, and any form of discrimination whether based on race, religion, nationality, race, gender, sex, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.

Gender 

Gender will be considered during the planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of all project activities. This will include the accessibility, acceptability, staffing, reporting and impact of activities.

Evidence Base 

Where available, our interventions will be based on published evidence of effectiveness. 

Capacity building and Sustainability

MAP is committed to building the capacity of our project partners, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of services. Partner capacity will be assessed at the outset of partnerships, with activities designed to enhance capacity included in project plans. 

Access for marginalised groups

We recognise the importance of ensuring access to services for marginalised groups, during periods of calm and emergencies. These may include the very poor, persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, women and the elderly/infirm.

Protection of vulnerable people

Given the environments within which we work and the complexity of some of our projects, the protection of children and vulnerable adults is critical. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards within our organisation and partners, and to the regular review of our policies and protocols and the training of all staff.

Read our Safeguarding Policy  (Arabic) and the MAP Code of Conduct, (Arabic) updated in January 2021. 

Memberships

MAP is a member of the following alliances and membership bodies which aim to improve our own work as an NGO but also contribute to improving the sector as a whole.

Core Humanitarian Standards Alliance

We are working towards the implementation of the Core Humanitarian Standard. We aim to support appropriate humanitarian aid and development assistance to Palestinians through partnerships with Palestinian organisations in Palestine and Lebanon and in co-ordination and collaboration with other humanitarian stakeholders. We adhere to the four underlying principles of the CHS:

• Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found. The purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings.
• Impartiality: Humanitarian action must be carried out on the basis of need alone, giving priority to the most urgent cases of distress and making no adverse distinction on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class or political opinion.
• Independence: Humanitarian action must be autonomous from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented.
• Neutrality: Humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

AIDA – the Association of International Development Agencies

AIDA is a network representing over 80 international non-governmental organisations working in occupied Palestine, across sectors including education, health, human rights and water and sanitation. Through AIDA, MAP works in co-operation with other international agencies to ensure greater accountability within the donor community and increased aid effectiveness.

EuroMed Rights

The mission of EuroMed Rights is to promote and strengthen human rights and democratic reform in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Rooted in civil society, the network develops and strengthens partnerships between non-governmental organisations (NGOs), disseminates human rights values, advocates for them and increases the capabilities of local partners in this regard.

Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition

The Safeguarding Health in Conflict coalition is a group of international nongovernmental organizations working to protect health workers, services, and infrastructure. The coalition has three main objectives:

• Raise awareness of the problem of attacks on health workers, facilities, transport systems, and clients
• Work with national and global organizations to strengthen the documentation of such attacks and increase accountability for violators
• Empower local groups to play a safe, active role in documenting attacks and demanding accountability at national and international levels

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

MAP has ‘Special’ consultative status with ECOSOC. This requires us to submit quadrennial reports to the United Nations on our activities and in return grants access to various UN bodies, human rights mechanisms and ad-hoc processes, as well as special events organised by the United Nations.

Due Diligence

MAP takes its Due Diligence very seriously. You can read our policy on seeking and receiving large gifts here.